Harry Medved, a spokesman for online ticket seller fandango.com, wrote in an e-mail that the film is the fastest-selling title of the year so far, with 2,000 screenings of "Deathly Hallows" already sold out nationwide.

A few local events will mark the opening of the film. Unless otherwise noted, all are free.

Tonight at 6, Wallingford Public Library, at 200 N. Main St., will show "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I." On Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m., Wallingford will host a Potter trivia contest for kids 8 to 12, and the website promises "there will be very cool props used to keep score." Details: http://www.wallingford.lioninc.org/.

On Saturday, a Harry Potter Party will be held, with costumes encouraged, at 10:30 a.m. at the Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main St. in Manchester. For details, call 860-643-2471.

The Berlin-Peck Memorial Library, 234 Kensington Road in Berlin, is holding a Harry Potter Trivia Contest for Grades 6 to 12. Every day until Wednesday, there will be a trivia question. Kids can come to the library, fill out a form and answer that day's question. Each correct response will be put into a drawing for two tickets to a midnight showing of the new film. The more frequently a child plays, the greater the chances of winning. Also, on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., Berlin-Peck will host a free screening of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I." Pizza, soda and cookies will be served. Registration is necessary. No one younger than 13 will be admitted without a parent.

Next Thursday, the Children's Museum, at 950 Trout Brook Drive in West Hartford, will hold a "Wizard Day," which is free with museum admission of $11. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. For details, visit http://www.thechildrensmuseumct.org, or call 860-231-2824.

Also on Thursday, at 3 p.m., Windsor Public Library, 323 Broad, St., will hold a "Harry's Last Hurrah!" party, for Grades 5 and older. Details: 860-285-1910.

Canton Public Library, 40 Dyer Ave., is holding a free screening of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I" at 8 p.m. on Thursday for kids 10 and older, but ages 10 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Also, on Thursday, July 28, the library will hold a birthday party for Harry Potter, at which kids will be sorted into Hogwarts houses by the sorting hat and participate in about a dozen events, including a viewing of a display of Harry Potter items and a performance of J.K. Rowling-related material by local youths in a performing troupe.

"Harry Potter's birthday is the 31st, but that's a Sunday, and we're not open on Sunday, so we moved it. It's also J.K. Rowling's birthday," said Heather Baker, head of children's services at Canton. "There are likely to be more than 150 people there. It should be fun, but crazy." Registration: 860-693-5800.

Lucy Robbins Welles Library, 95 Cedar St. in Newington, at noon on Friday, July 15, will screen the movie that started it all, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Kids can bring lunch, and free dessert will be provided.

On Wednesday, July 20, at 2 p.m., South Windsor Public Library, at 1550 Sullivan Ave., will have a "Harry Potter Trivia Game Show." Any child in Grade 6 or higher is welcome to compete, and prizes will be awarded for the most knowledgable Potter fan. Registration: 860-644-5404

A few weeks later, on Aug. 4 from 2 to 3, the Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, will hold a "Hogwarts Cuisine" party for kids 8 and older at which they will eat "snacks and potions from the books," according to the library website. Registration: 860-673-6791.

Canton's youth performing troupe also will perform a Harry Potter-themed show on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Local Screenings

Following is a listing of midnight screenings in the Hartford area next Thursday night (Friday morning, technically). Check movietickets.com and fandango.com, or visit the box offices, to make sure the showings are not sold out. Also, be sure to arrive early to get a good seat.

>> Rave Buckland, 99 Red Stone Road in Manchester has five 12:01 a.m. screenings in 2-D, screening at 12:01 a.m. and 12:15 a.m. in 3-D, and at 12:01 a.m. and 3:15 a.m. in IMAX 3D.

>> Loews Plainville, 220 New Britain Ave.: 12:01 a.m. in 2-D, 12:01 a.m. in 3-D, 3 a.m. in IMAX 3-D. There also will be 9 p.m. showing of "Deathly Hallows Part 1," with "Part 2" in same theater immediately afterward, as a double feature.